Retort for the manufacture of illuminating-gas.



C. W. ISBELL. RETGET FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 2, 190B.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

C. W. ISBELLI BETOBT FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLUMINATING ms.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DBO. 2, 1908.

Patented Dec.7, 1909.

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CHARLES W. ISBELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

sensor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '2,

Application filed December 2, 1908. Serial No. 465,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. lsnnLL, a

State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Retortsfor the Manufacture of Illuminating-Gas, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention consists in 'certain imtroducing the secondary airdirectly into the combustion chamber instead of into the furnace ilu'cas heretofore: third, to provide a gas flue in a rctort, communicatingat intervals with the interior of the retort: fourth,

to provide a step by step enlargement of the area of the retort from thetop to the bottom thereof so as to accomplish the double purpose offorming afrcc gas space under each step from which a flue leads to thegas flue in the retort, and of allowing a sudden expansion of the coalat intervals asit passes down through the retort instead of the gradualexpansion as is usual: fifth, to provide a revolving brake atthe bottomof the retortwhich forms asupport. for the column of coke and coal, andsixth, to provide a ram for removing thev coke at the desired speed.

A practical embodiment of my invention represented in the accompanyingdrawings which show a bank of four retorts, it being understood that thenumber of retorts may be varied to suit different requirements. Figure lis a vertical section taken in'the planes of the lines A-A of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectiontaken in the plane of the line 'B-B of F 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane of theline C of Fig.

2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fi l is a ilan view of one of the retort secy 1 t1ons and E1 0 IS asection tauen 1n the planes of the line D D of Fig. '-l-, looking in thedirection of the arrows at iortion of the 1 next adjoining retortsection being shownin longitudinal vertical central section.

The four vertical retorts 1, 2, 3, 4, are arranged in two parallel rowswithin the con1- bustion chamber 5, through which chamber, between andaround the said retorts, the products of combustion from the furnace 6audits line 7, circulate to the chimney line 8 through the sidelines 9and 10. The secondary air is fed directly into the combustion chamberinstead of into the furnace line as heretofore. 1n. the present instancethis secondary air is fed fromsidc flues ll, 12 and their common line 13and openings l-l, i5, 16, through the Hour plate 17 of the corn bustionchamber 5 and its lire-brick lining 18. This tloor plate 17 is supportedby suitable columns lt) and. the retorts are supported by said floorplate and by the structure of masonry which includes the furnace (5.

Beneath the floor platc l7, I provide a casdip pipes 21. which formdownward extensinus of the retorts 1, Q, 3, l. This casing has an upvat'dly inclined outlet for the coke and further provided with a doubleinclined main bottom .33 and a false fiat bottom The space between themain bottom 23 and the false bottom 2 adapted to re ccivc the tar, and asuitable pipe 25 is provided for removing the tar. \Vater is introducedinto this casing 20 to a point slightly above the lower ends of the dipsame, the space 26 between the water level and the floor plate 17,forming a gas chamher. A system of piping 27 leads from the gas chamber26 for conveying the gas to any desired point. p

Revolving supports 28 are iixcdlymounted on shafts 29'below the bottomsof the several retorts, which supports also serve to agitate the coke atthe bottoms of the retorts and cause the same to be deposited on to thefalse bottom 24 of the casing. The two shafts 29 may be rotated at thedesired specd from any suitable source of power, not shown herein.Suitable means, not shown herein, are provided for feeding the coalcontinuously intothe tops of the several rctorts.

The coke is removed little by little upwardly through-the inclinedoutlet 22, by means of a ram EEO-reciprocating on the false bottom 24,which ram is driven by a suitabl engine 31. v

Each of the retorts increases in. area F ag} pipes 21, so as to form awater seal for theing 20 into the interior of which proj ect the by stepfrom the top to the bottom. thereof, so as to serve the double purposeof permitting a sudden expansion. of the coal at inter vals during'itsdownward movement and also of providing gas spaces under the said steps.In the present instance this step by step enlargement of'the retort isprovided for by forming the retort of hollow sections having parallelbores, the top section having a bore of a certain diameter and thesucceeding sections having bores of gradually increasing diameters. Eachretort is provided with one or more main vertical gas lines; in thepresent instance two of these gas tines 32 are provided, the lower endsof which are open through the floor plate 17 andlining 18 .into thechamber 26 and the upper ends of which fines are provided with suitableplugs 33 throughwvhich steam may be admitted for preventing theoverheating and consequent decomposition of the gas as it passes downinto the gas chamber. I Diagonal gas fines 3d leadupwardly from thestepsin the interior of the retort, into the main gas fines 32, thusaffording an outlet for the gas which collects in the spaces beneath thesaid steps. This gas passes downwardly throu h" these tines 32 into thegas chamber 26. he rest of the gas passes downwardly through the waterseal at the bottom of the retort and bubbles upwardly into the said gaschamber 26,

ill/here the retorts are arranged in parallel series as shown in theaccompanying drawings, the two retorts 1 and 3 nearest to the,lt'urnace, are connected to the furnace wall and are also connected tothe next two retorts 2 and 4, so that the products of combastion .asthey pass from the furnace 6 through the flue 7, have to first passbetween the adjacent walls of the retorts and from thence to the chimneybranch flues 9, 10, along the outer walls of the said retorts, thusinsuring the utilization of the products of "combustion to the bestadvantage. Furthermore, the secondary air which is introduced throughthe openings 14, 15, 16, is intro duced at the enlarged spaces in thecombos tion chamber Where the secondary air may be readily mixed withthe products of com bustion t'rom thet'urnacc to produce the greatestheat at the desired points. Another great advantage of introducing thesecondary airdirectlyinto the combustion chamber instead of into thefurnace fine, is that the greatest heat of the products of combustion isinsured within the comlmstion chamber and not within the furnace fluewhere the tendency has been to heat the Walls of the fiirnace fine to amelting point. I

What I claim is: I 1. In 'an apparatus of the character de scribed, acommon closed gas chamber and a plurality of upright retorts arranged todischarge their gas from the bottoms thereof into said common closed gaschamber.

, 2. In an apparatus of the character described, a luralityot uprightretorts arranged to 'ischarge their 'as from the bottoms thereof, aWiltQKiSetIl or the bottoms of the retorts anda common closed gaschamber above the said Water seal arranged to re 'ceive the gas as it isdischarged from the bottoms of the said retorts.

3. In an apparatus of the character as;

scribed, a closed gas chamber and an upnight retort having an openbottom and arrahged to discharge its gas through the bottom into thesaid closed gas chamber, said retort having a main gas flue locatedwithin the walls tort having a pluralityof main gas fines located withinthe Wallsot the retort and opening at their bottoms directly into saidclosed gas chamber and branch fines leading ranged to discharge its gasthrough the bottom into said closed gas chamber, said refrom theinterior of the retort at different 1 points along the same into thesaid main gas flues. v I

5. In an apparatus of the character described," a common closed gaschamber and a pluralitynof upright retorts arranged to discharge theirgas from the bottoms thereof into said common gas chamber, each of saidretorts having a main gas flue therein opening at its bottom directlyinto said common gas chamber and branch fines leading from the "interiorof the retort at different points along the same into said main gasflue.

6. In an apparatus of the character dc I scribed, a common closed gaschamber and a plurality of upright retorts arran ed to discharge theirgas from the bottoms t eieof into said common as chamber, each of saidretortshaving a purality of main gas fines therein opening attheir'bottoms directly'.

into said common gas chamber and branch flues leading from the interiorof the retort at different points along the same into said *nain gasfines. i

' 7. In an apparatus-of thecharacter described, an upright retcrt, aWater seal for its bottom and a gas chamber above said water seal, saidretort having a main gas flue therein opening at the bottom into saidchamber and branch tlues leading from the interior of the retort atdifferent points along the same into said' main gas flue whereby the gasis discharged from thebottom of the retort.

8.1m an apparatus, of the character described, an upright i'etort, awater seal for its bottom and a gas chamber above the water seal. saidretort having a plurality of main gas tines therein opening at thebottom into said chamber and branch tines leading from the interior ofthe retort at diil'erent points along the same into the said main gas.fines whereby the. gas is discharged from the bottom of the retort.

.l. In an apparatus of the eharat'rter dcscribed, a jilurality ofupright retorts a water seal for their bottoms and a gas chamber abovethe water seal, each of said retorts having a main as fine thereinopening at the bottom into said gas chamber and branch lines leadingfrom the interior of the retort at dill erent poinlsalong the same intosaid main gas line whereby the gas is discharged from the bottom of theretor 10. In an apparatus oi the character described, a plurality ofupright retorts and a water seal for their bottoms; each of said retortshaving a plurality of main gas tines therein opening: at the bottom intosaid gas chamber and branch tines leading from the interior of theretort at different points along the same into said main gas lineswhereby the gas is discharged from the bot.-

12. in an apparatus of the character dc.-

scribed. a gas chan'iben an upright retort ha ving a plurality of maingas lines therein opening at the bottom into said gas chamber and branchtines leading from the interior of the retort at different points along,the ame into said main gas llues whereby the gas is discharged from thebottom of the retort and means for introducing steam at the tops of themain gas lines for preventing the over-heating and consequentdecomposition ot the gas as it passes down into the gas chamber.

'13. In an apparatus of the character de: scribed. a gas chamber, aplurality of up right rctnrts each having a main gas tlue thereinopening at the bottom into said chamber and branch tines loading fromthe interior of the retort, at ditlerent points along the same into saidmain gas flue-Where by the gas is discharged from the bottom of theretort and means for introducing steam at the top of the said main gasflue for preventing the over-heating and consetpuznt decompo ition otthe gas as it passes down into the chamber.

14. In an apparatus of the character described. av gas chamber, aplurality of upright retorts each having a plurality of main gas finestherein opening at the bottom into said gas chamber and branch finesleading front the interior ot the retort at different points along thesame into said main gas tines whereby the is discharged from the bottomofthe retort and neans for intro ducing steam at the t0ps-of the maingasfines for preventing the over-heating 'a-iid consequent decomposition ofthe gas as it passes down into he gas chamber.

15. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a plurality of uprightretorts, a

combustion chamber surrountiling the same, a 'furnace having its flueleading into the front of the combustion chamber above the bottomthereof and means for leading" a sup-, ply of secondary air directlyinto said com-o bustion chamber upvardly through the bottom atditi'erent'. pointsfrom the front to the back thereof.

16. In an apparatus of the character descril'ied. a plurality of uprightretorts arranged in two series. a combustion chamber surrounding theretori's, a furnace having its tine leading into the front of thecombustion chamber at a point between said series of retorts and abovethe bdttom of the combustion chamber, chimney fines leading from thefront of the combustion chamber at "points outside the series of retortsand means for leading a supply of secondary air directly into saidcombustion chamber upwardly through the bottom at diil'erentv pointsbetween said two seriesfot' retorts from the front to the back of thecmnbnstion chamber.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, an uprightretortarranged to dis charge its gas from the bottom thereof. a casingsurrounding the bottom of the retort an outlet for the casing; a waterseal within the casing for the bottom of the retort. a is chamber formedabove said water seal into which the gas is discharged from the battomof the retort and means for removing the coke from the casing throughits outlet con tinuously.

' 18. In an apparatus otfthe character described. a' plurality ofupright retorts ar ranged to discharge their gas from the bottomsthereof, a casing surrounding the bittoms of the retorts, an outlet forthe casing, a water seal within the casing for the bottoms of theretorts, a chamber formed above the said water seal into which the gasis discharged from the bottoms of said retorts and means for removingthe coke through said outlet continuously.

195111 an apparatus of the character de scribed. an upright retortarranged to dis charge its from the bOllOln tlltl'tt-lf, a casingsurrounding the not tom 01" the retort,

an outlet for the casing, a Water seal within the casing for the bottomof the retort, a gas chamber formed above said water seal into which thegas is discharged from the bottom of the retort, means for removing thecoke from the casing through its outlet continuously, a sup ort for thecontentsof the retort located elow thebottom of the retort and means forrotating said support to agitate the coke atthe bottom of the retort.

20. In an apparatus of the character dc toms of the rctorts and meansfor rotating said supports to agitate the cake at the bott toms of thesaid reto'rts.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, an upright retort, acasing sur rounding the bottom of the retort, said casing having a mainbottom'and a false bottom including between them a tar removing spaceand a water seal within the casing for the bottom of the said retort, agas chamber bein formed above the water seal into whicn the gas isdischarged from the retort.

In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of uprightretorts, a cas- .ing surroundingthe bottoms ot the retofts, said casinghaving a main bottom and a false bottom including between them a ta'rremoving space and a water, seal Within the casing for the bottoms ofthe said retorts, a gas chamber being formed above the Water seal intowhich thegas is. discharged fro the said rotor-ts."

- 23. In an apparatus of the character described, an upright retort, acasing surrounding the bottom of the retort, said casing havinga mainbottom and a false bottom including between them a tar removing space,and a water seal within the casing for the bottom of the said retort, agas chamber being formed above the water seal into which the gas isdischarged from the retort, an outlet for the said casing and areciprocating ram on said false bottom arranged to remove the coke.continuously fromthe cas ing through said outlet.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, an upright retort, acasing surrounding the bottom of the retort, said casing having a mainbottom and a false bottom including between them a tar removing spaceand a water seal withi tis the casing for the I bottom of the saidretort, a gas chamber be- 4 ing formed above the water seal into whichthe gas is discharged from the retort, an

outlet for vthe said casing. a reciprocatingv seal into which the gas isdischarged from said retorts, an outlet for the said casing and areciprocating ram on saidi'alse bottom arranged to remove the cokecontinu ously from the casing through. said outlet.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of uprightretorts, a cas 1 ing surrounding the bottoms of the retorts,

said casing having a main bottom and a false bottom includmg betweenthem a tar removing space and a water seal Within the casing for thebottoms of the said retorts, a gas chamber being formed above the Waterseal into which the gas is discharged from the said retorts, an outletfor. the said casing, a reciprocating ram on said false bottom arrangedto remove the colic continuously:

from the'casing through said outlet and revolving grates at the bottomsof the retorts forming supportsior the contents of the said retorts.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two witnesses, this thirtieth day of November1908.

CHARLES W. ISBELL.

-Witnesses:

F. (inonon BARRY, l-Innnr TII1EME.

